The top flight of German soccer, the Bundesliga will return to play on May 16^th, where the German Football Association (DFL) is hoping to complete by June 30^th the full season which came into shutdown due to coronavirus-related safety concerns.

On Wednesday the German government approved the return of the league to activity, and referred the decision on return dates to the DFL.  On a following meeting held on Thursday, the 36 teams that comprise the two top tiers of soccer in the country agreed on the first game to be played in May 16.  An early start was decided in order to complete the entire 2020 season by the end of June.

Like many other sports leagues around the world that were affected by the pandemic, the German Bundesliga was suspended on March 13^th, which marked the week of its 26^th matchday of the 2020 season.  Although the original game schedule will be resumed, the DFL and health authorities agreed that all games will be held in empty stadiums without fans present.

One of the exciting soccer games that will be played on the day the Bundesliga returns in May 16^th is the Revierderby between two long-time rivals Borussia Dortmund and FC Shalke.  Current Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will travel to face Union Berlin on May 17^th, and the Klassiker between old rivals Borussia Dortmund and Bayern is scheduled for May 26 or 27^th.  Bayern Munich are now four points ahead of Dortmund, and will be looking to clinch their eighth title in a row.

Beyond being one of the most followed soccer leagues in Europe and beyond, many soccer and other sports fans around the world will be following closely the German model of returning to play, as it may determine the future of other sports leagues and major sporting events around the world.  In the US, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that Major League Soccer is closely following European soccer leagues, and the option of playing in empty stadiums, or “Soccer Studios” as he termed it, is being considered for US soccer as well.

If like us, you are looking forward to sports returning, why not make things even more exciting by placing a few bets on Bundesliga action? With many states in the US such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Colorado and more now offering legal sports betting, you can go online and install a sports-betting mobile app, or register with a sports-betting website and get into the action right away.  It’s safe, secure and 100% legal, and you can now also claim a great bonus!